This chapter is adopted for the following purposes:
(A) To provide for the protection, preservation, replacement, proper maintenance, restoration, and use of the township’s wetlands in accordance with their character, adaptability, and stability, in order to prevent their pollution or contamination; minimize their disturbance and disturbance to the natural habitat therein; and prevent damage from erosion, siltation, and flooding.
(B) To encourage proper and reasonable economic use of wetlands, discourage and prevent improper use, reduce financial burdens that improper uses impose on the community, maintain a harmonious and compatible land use balance within the township, and prevent nuisance conditions that arise with the indiscriminate use or development of wetlands.
(C) To support the enforcement of applicable federal, state, and county statutes, ordinances, and regulations, including the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act which imposes a responsibility on governmental agencies, individuals, and organizations to prevent or minimize the pollution, impairment or destruction of natural resources that would be likely to be caused by their activities.
(D) To establish standards and procedures for the review and regulation of the use of wetlands.
(E) To provide for the issuance of wetland use permits for approved activities.
(F) To provide a procedure for appealing decisions.
(G) To establish enforcement procedures and penalties for the violation of this chapter.
(H) To assure that the right to reasonable use of private property is maintained.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2002; Ord., § 1.3, passed 9-7-2010)